Plan B

“Man up.” “Suck it up.” “Toughen up.” For many men, these are words they’ve heard growing up: messages that can make it harder to talk openly about emotions and vulnerability. But Danny Loong, co-founder of Timbre and MenToo, an initiative encouraging conversations around men’s mental health, wants to challenge that mindset. To him, vulnerability isn’t a weakness or something to be ashamed of - it...

Retirement planning is easy to put off. There’s always something more urgent: house, kids, ageing parents, business, bills. Before you know it, “later” keeps getting pushed further away. Darren, Dzar and Rahman unpack the realities of planning for retirement, from “I’ll think about it when I earn more” to “I don’t have spare cash.” They also put CPF’s Retirement Payout Planner to the test and expl...

“Every school is a good school.” We’ve heard it countless times but is every school really the same? According to NTU’s Asst Prof Luke Lu, whose new book explores the experiences of elite students in Singapore, every school may be good, but they are certainly different. And those differences can shape more than just grades, from the people we meet and the way we speak, to how others see us. With m...

As China’s influence on the world stage grows, is China still misunderstood, even by fellow Asian countries like Singapore? Who better to unpack this than Yuanpu Huang, aka Yuan, the man behind Yuan Unpacks China, a platform that aims to help the world better understand China, from its people and culture to its politics and place in the world. And with Singapore caught between an increasingly asse...

He served in the US Marines, became a CIA case officer, and later ran for the US House of Representatives. Now, Adam Dunigan joins us to unpack the geopolitical tensions reshaping the world, from China’s rise as a global power to the growing rivalry between major nations. While Dunigan says a full-scale World War 3 may not be here yet, he argues that proxy wars are already being fought, and that r...

At a time when companies are freezing hiring and wage growth remains a concern, news that ministers are getting a pay increase is bound to raise eyebrows. But is it necessarily unjustified? It’s the first adjustment in 15 years, and Singapore has long been transparent about how political salaries are determined. PM Lawrence Wong has also raised concerns about getting more Singaporeans, including t...

What exactly makes someone Singaporean? It’s a question that has resurfaced in recent years, but came sharply into focus after news broke of Singaporeans missing in the Nepal-Tibet floods. While many expressed concern, some were quick to question whether the victims were “really Singaporean”, particularly those with Indian-sounding names. Against a backdrop of several viral incidents and online de...

With Malaysia’s elections on the horizon, we’re bringing back a guest (and a requested one) who knows Malaysian politics inside out: Dr Nawab. From the rise of the conservative “green wave” to the resurgence of Barisan Nasional, Malaysia’s political landscape is shifting. And with Singapore-Malaysia ties more important than ever, what could these changes mean for us across the Causeway? With the J...

The biggest takeaway from this year’s National Day Rally? The Government appears to have hit the panic button on Singapore’s declining total fertility rate (TFR), rolling out more measures to support families. While parents may welcome perks such as more childcare leave and lower childcare costs, singles may wonder where they fit in. If colleagues with children get more leave, for instance, will t...

You’ve probably seen their shops around Singapore, and maybe even tried their viral candies. We’re bringing back Luqmaan and Haikkel from The SGFR Store, this time to talk about youth entrepreneurship in Singapore. With the Government’s recent SG Youth Plan and more young people taking the leap into business, should there be a dedicated grant to support young entrepreneurs? And would Luqmaan and H...

You’ve probably seen Koocester’s TikToks interviewing people with seriously nice cars. But there’s more to the brand than supercars. In our latest interview, he unveils a new side of his business centred around AI. With businesses increasingly turning to AI to streamline their work, Singapore is also moving to get students ready for an AI-driven future, with AI education being introduced in school...

Our national identity was once built around survival: economic growth, security and simply making it as a young nation. But six decades later, perhaps survival isn’t enough. As Darren puts it, “a nation without a state, a state without a nation”, history and identity can forge something that goes beyond the state itself. As Singapore becomes more diverse and our ideas of success continue to evolve...

One of the biggest topics covered in Parliament this week was the planned clearing of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks to make way for future BTOs. While many Singaporeans were disappointed after months of campaigning to save these sites, others argue that more housing is urgently needed. But with Singapore’s declining birth rate, who exactly are these homes being built for? That question sparks a...

Massive Attack’s ban from Singapore over their pro-Palestine concert actions has made international headlines, and once again, Singapore is being painted as the villain. But is it that simple? As foreign artists, they may not have fully understood Singapore’s laws, and some argue a fine or warning could have sufficed. Others say that in an era of foreign influence campaigns, the Government had lit...

$1,800. That’s the starting price of Singapore’s newly announced co-living units for youths aged 21 to 35. Designed to encourage independence and help young people build new communities, the initiative has already sparked criticism over its hefty price tag, especially when cheaper alternatives exist on the open market. Some have also questioned whether strangers living together could create more p...

This week, one story dominated the headlines: Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim’s resignation. After Min. K. Shanmugam described Faishal’s messages to a female member of the public as “objectively inappropriate and questionable”, many were left asking what exactly was said. Yet beyond the questions, the overwhelming reaction, particularly within the Malay-Muslim community, has been one of shock and disappo...

With Bloomberg and its reporter ordered to pay $230,000 each to Ministers K. Shanmugam and Tan See Leng, it’s worth asking: what does “free speech” actually mean in Singapore? While many Singaporeans consume Western media, free speech doesn’t work the same way here. Bloomberg relied on a UK legal defence called “Reynolds Privilege”, which protects journalists who publish defamatory material if it...

ou’ve probably seen Ministry of Spud’s loaded potatoes all over your feed, and the long queues that come with them. For founders Khalil and Nana, going viral has fuelled the brand’s rapid rise. But for Khalil, the online fame has also come with criticism, with some branding him a “bully” over his blunt replies to commenters. His response? The criticism doesn’t bother him, in fact, he says he may e...

Faraid selalu jadi punca pergaduhan dalam keluarga. Ramai fokus pada siapa dapat lebih atau kurang, tapi jarang kita fikir tentang amanah yang datang bersama setiap bahagian. Harta pusaka bukan milik kita selamanya. Jangan sampai harta yang ditinggalkan menjadi sebab hubungan adik-beradik dan keluarga pula yang hancur.

Singapore’s legal profession is confronting a difficult question: why are so many lawyers choosing to leave? A recent study has renewed attention on the pressures faced within the industry and for young lawyers, the transition into working life can be overwhelming. Hostile work environments, demanding clients and constant pressure can quickly drain the passion that first drew them to the professio...

When Marcus’ PowerJet artwork outside an MRT station was reported to the police and subsequently whitewashed, the internet rallied behind him almost instantly. Much of the outrage was directed at the alleged “Karen” who complained, while others criticised SMRT, with some netizens speculating that the transport operator had been involved in the artwork’s removal. But beyond the controversy lies a b...

You’ve probably noticed the surge of running groups across Singapore’s central districts in recent months. But long before it became the latest fitness trend, runners like Izuan were already building communities around the sport. Widely regarded as one of the OGs of the Malay-Muslim running scene, he shares his perspective on how the community has evolved, and whether the boom is truly about healt...

A growing number of alleged China-originated videos targeting Singapore’s Indian community have drawn criticism from MPs, including Edwin Tong. Some see Singapore as culturally aligned with China because of its Chinese-majority population. But Singapore has long defined itself as a multicultural nation with its own identity. As online narratives become more divisive and anti-Indian sentiments spre...

When Nor Syazwan Abdul Majid performed the azan during his Malay Kampung Heritage Tour on Pulau Ubin, he never expected it would lead to a complaint and national headlines. The incident sparked a wave of criticism online, with some accusing him of “inciting religious tensions” or promoting religious conversion. While the backlash affected him, messages of support have kept him going. Yet behind th...

For the past week, marketing agency BrandTok has been making headlines, and not for the right reasons. Multiple SMEs have come forward accusing founder Sam Heedy of failing to deliver promised services, producing poor-quality work and going unresponsive. Today, we sat down with some of the most outspoken clients involved. While a few eventually recovered their money through the Small Claims Tribun...